Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet '1.

.H. SABINE.

OAR COUPLING; I No. 380,936. Patented Apr. 10, 1888,

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STATES PA'rnNr HYLAS SABINE, OF RIOHWOOD, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO LOGAN O. NEWVSOM, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,936, dated April 10, 1883.

Application filed July 22, 1887. sriiu No. 244,994. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HYLAS SABINE, of Richwood, in the county of Union and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Oar-Oouplings, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings of the class in which vibrating jaws pivoted in draw-heads are automatically actuated, both in coupling and uncoupling.

My objects are to provide easily-operated, reliable, strong couplings which may readily be applied to cars, and to protect them from becoming clogged by snow, ice, 800.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section. Figs. 2, 2, and 2" show, respectively, a plan and an end elevation and a side elevation of a coupling-jaw. Fig. 3 shows the draw-head in horizontal section with the drawbar or draft-rod. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the draw-head with the coupling-jaw in its closed position, with the locking-bolt and its operating devices.

Only one draw-head, coupling-jaw, &c., are shown. Duplicates of these parts are employed for each car obviously.

The vibrating coupling-jaw is bent to'provide the hook or jaw proper, A, and the heelextension or locking-arm D, the bend being such as to form an obtuse angle. The hole y in the jaw, by which it is attached by the pivot Y to the draw-head B, is so located relatively to the bend of the jaw as to adapt the jaw to be secured with its locking-arm extending within the chamber E of the drawhead, so that this chamber forms a protectinghousing and prevents the accumulation of snow, sleet, &c., thus guarding against clogging. The form of the chamber is such as to allow of the vibration of the jaw to the extent required to open it, as indicated by full lines, and close it, as indicated by dotted lines, in Fig. 1. When thejaw is open, the end of the locking-arm projects slightly into the longitudinal cavity Z of the draw-head, and its movement is checked by a rib, 2, on the draw head. By giving the jaw an obtuse-angle bend, instead of bending it at about a right angle, as heretofore usual in this class of couplings, and locating the pivot as shown, but a slight amount of play .is required to be given to the jaw to open and close it, and I am enabled to provide the housing-chamber E without unduly increasing the size or weight of the draw-head. By pivoting the obtuse-angled jaw about midway its width, and so that the distance between the pivot and the pullingpoint of the jaw (the inner surface of the outer end of the jaw) and the distance between the pivot and the locking-pointer point of resistance of the jaw (the point at which the locking-arm of the jaw bears against the lockingbolt) are the same, or approximately equal, great strength and durability are attained. It will also be seen that by the construction shown I am enabled to apply the draw-head to a car without removing the coupling-jaw, as the draft-rod h may be'put in place while the jaw is in the draw-head.

The draw-head is formed with curved side projections, T, which, when struck by the jaw A of another draw-head, closes the jaw, as will readily be understood.

When the coupling-jaw is closed or coupled with another jaw, it is dogged in this position by a locking bolt, K, acting on the lockingarm of the jaw. (See Fig. I.) This bolt rests upon the locking-arm when the jaw is open, and drops into the dogging position immediately upon the completion of the closing move ment of thejaw.

Suitable operating devices for the lockingbolt are provided. As shown, a crank-ended rook-shaft, L, to be secured to the car in usual well-known way, is provided with afixedsegment-sheave, I, to which one end of a chain, m, is attached. The opposite end of the chain is connected to the locking-bolt. Any of the usually employed and suitable deteuts or retaining devices may be provided for holding the rock-shaft in the desired position. The locking-bolt dropsinto a recess, F, in the inner portion of the draw-head and Works through a slot in the top of the draw-head. A pin, G, passing through a slot, S, in the locking-bolt and through a boss, 3, about the slot in the top of the draw-head, prevents accidental withdrawal of the looking-bolt from the drawhead.

To provide for the automatic movementof the coupling-jaw to its open position when undogged, I employ anti-friction rollers or balls in the following way: The draw-head at the bottom of its housing-chamber E and nearits inner front end is provided with asegmental groove, H, concentric with the pivot of the coupling-jaw. This groove is deepest at its outer end, where it adjoins a short groove, X, extending to the front of the drawhead. The bottom of this groove H serves as a bearing for a loose antifriction ball or roller, 6. The groove gradually decreases in depth to the inner end thereof, and the ball-bearing of this groove is of a length such as to suit the amount of travel of the roller in giving the proper movement to the coupling-jaw, as will presently be made plain. A segmental groove, (1, is formed on the under surface of the coupling-jaw concentric with its pivot. This roller-bearing groove is the counterpart of that in the draw-head, except that it is inclined in the opposite direction, being made deepest at its inner end. When the parts are in operative position, the combined depth of the two roller-grooves at any point in the traverse of the roller is slightly less than the diameter of the roller. In inserting the roller in place it is held in the groove in the coupling-jaw and inserted by way of the inletgroove X as the jaw is placed in position. The depth of the inlet-groove is slightly less than that of the groove H at its deepest part, so that when the parts are in position escape of the roller is prevented. In this way it will be seen that I reduce the friction between the parts to the minimum. If deemed preferable, additional grooves may be provided and two anti-frictional rollers employed.

The inclination of the grooves for the rollers is such as to bring the hook of the lockingjaw when open as much below the position it occupies when closed as is deemed necessary to insure the proper automatic opening action by gravity, as will readily be understood.

As it is sometimes desirable to adapt the couplings for automatic uncoupling without the attendance of a train-man when strain on on the couplings ceases, I provide a coiled spring, 0, about a portion of the chain m, and engaging at its opposite ends with links of the chain. Ordinarily, or when the chain is not under tension and the spring relaxed, the chain is slack between the ends of the spring. Aftercoupling, and when there is strain on the coupling-jaws and considerable pressure exerted on the locking-bolt, the chain may be stretched taut, or nearly so, by its controlling rock-shaft, &c., (or the well-known equivalent ,thereof,) and so secured. Obviously, when strain on the coupling ceases,the spring will act to automatically lift the locking-bolt to permit of the opening of thecoupling-jaw.

I am aware that, broadly considered, it is not new to provide oppositely-inclined surfaces on coupling-jzwvs and the draw-heads supporting them, so that the jaws will open automatically,

and I do not, therefore, claim couplings of this kind without the grooves and anti-frictional rollers. I By the employment of these rollers in the manner described not only do I avoid the necessity of providing very steep inclines to insure opening of the couplingjaws by gravity, but I also provide a couping the housing-chamber and the longitudinal cavity communicating therewith, the vibrating coupling-jaw provided with the lockingarm confined in its movements within said chamber and cavity, and the pivot by which the couplingjaw is attached to the draw head at a point about the same distance from the pulling-point as from the locking-point of the jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the draw-head, the vibrating coupling-jaw provided with the locking-arm and pivoted in the draw-head about midway its width and at a point about the same distance from its locking-point as from its pulling-point, and the verticallymoving locking-bolt resting at its lower end upon the upper surface of the locking-arm when the coupling-jaw is open and dropping into its dogging position upon the closing of the jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the draw-head having the housing-chamber, the vibrating obtuse-angled coupling-jaw having its lockingarm within said chamber, and the pivot at-- taching the coupling-jaw to the draw-head by passing through the locking-arm at a point about equal distances from the locking-point and pulling-point of the jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the draw-head, the vibrating coupling-jaw having the lockingarm, the vertically-moving locking-bolt dogging the locking-arm when the coupling-jaw is closed, the lifting-chain, its controlling devices, and the spring engaging the chain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the draw-head having the inclined segmental roller-bearing groove, the vibrating coupling-jaw having the inclined segmental roller-bearing groove, and the anti-friction roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The coupling-jaw having the inclined segmental roller-bearing groove, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The draw-head provided with the inclined segmental roller-bearing groove and the inlet'groove, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the draw head having the housing-chamber communicating with its longitudinal cavity, the vibrating obtuse- IIO angled coupling-jaw having the locking-arm as the pivot is from the pulling-point of the confined in its movements within said chamjaw, and the controlling devices of the lockber and cavity, the pivot attaching the couping boit, substantially as and for the purpose ling-jaw to the draw head about midway the set forth.

5 width of the jaw, the vertically-moving lock- In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 1 ing-bolt resting at its lower end upon the upscribed my name. per surface of the locking-arm when the coup- HYLAS SABIN E. ling-jaw is open and dropping into its dog- Witnesses: ging position upon the closing of the jaw at a M. O. SCOTT,

.10 point about the same distance from the pivot B. M, SCOTT. 

